Can I Go Scuba Diving In Southeast Asia
Most definitely! Some of the worlds best diving locations are found in Southeast Asia notably in The Coral Triangle. This biodiversity epicenter is formed by the fusion of the South China Sea, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. The region hosts the widest variety of marine life in the world and offers a great array of exciting diving options.
Emma Reef Kimbe Bay Papua New Guinea
Emma Reef
Tobias Friedrich
The country of extreme geography and multifarious cultures also boasts some of the most biodiverse reefs on the planet. Of PNGs myriad underwater hot spots, the epicenter is New Britains Kimbe Bay, known in equal measure for its open-ocean nomads and hard- to-find macro creatures camouflaged among the corals. At Emma Reef the literal pinnacle of Kimbe diving divers get the best of both worlds: Barracuda, jacks and sharks circle the undersea spire, but tear yourself away from the blue water to find a cornucopia of tiny critters, from ever-present clownfish to fingernail-size pygmy seahorses, and a rainbow of flamboyantly colored nudibranchs. Travis Marshall
Otugi Pass
Simon Buxton
The Liberty can be reached from shore
Brandon Cole
One of the worlds best wrecks accessible from shore, the USAT Liberty was a casualty of Japanese torpedoes in World War II, left abandoned on Tulambens rocky beach, then pushed 100 feet offshore by lava from Mount Agungs 1963 eruption. Snorkelers can glimpse the Liberty in just 10 feet of water, but youll be glad youve strapped on tanks to relish the deeper, wide-angle views of a wreck encrusted with sponges and corals, and macro treasures like ghost pipefish, pygmy seahorses and nudibranchs. Terry Ward
Barracuda Point Sipadan Island Malaysia
Wall of coral where sharks come cruising by and barracuda surround you. You are guaranteed to see big stuff here and lots of it. Occasional strong currents blast over an underwater prairie that’s home to white tips, turtles, grouper, jacks, bumphead parrotfish and of course the barracuda that give it its name.
Barracuda by Andrew Reay-Robinson
Read more about diving Barracuda Point
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South Pass Fakarava French Polynesia
French Polynesia is known as one of the best shark diving destinations in the world, and what better place to dive with them than in Fakarava Islands South Pass. Known locally as Tumakohua Pass, visitors can expect to encounter hundreds of lemon, whitetip, and hammerhead sharks patrolling the narrow sides of a submerged valley. The excellent visibility and dramatic topography provide the ideal setting for some top-notch shark encounters.
Bluewater Top Tip: French Polynesia is the ideal multi-center destination, with Moorea and Rangiroa also offering some great diving.
For some amazing humpback whale encounters, join our Moorea Group Trip in September 2022.
Andaman And Nicobar Islands
Silver shores playing with dashing waves. That is Andaman. Dare to go deep and you will find yourself bedazzled by the extremely new and mysterious world consisting of coral reefs, beautiful patterned fishes, sea bed gardens dancing in the night silent water. Enough option for the begginers as well as the professionals.
Havelock Islands, Neil islands, Port Blair are some of the best diving sites of Andaman.
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Top 20 Dive Sites In The World
Every diver has their favorite site a hidden gem on their doorstep theyve explored a hundred times, or perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime vacation dive that conjures awesome memories. From historic shipwrecks to breathtaking marine life hotspots, spectacular coral reefs to lesser-known but equally special locations, weve pulled together our Bluewater best dive sites in the world. Each of these sites has been carefully selected by one of our well-traveled Trip Leaders, and they all guarantee some fantastic diving.
How many of them on your scuba diving bucket list?
Here are some of the best dive sites in the world. Pick one or scroll down to read the entire list:
What Are The Top 10 Scuba Diving Spots In Southeast Asia
The waters of Southeast Asia are for the most part warm and crystal clear. This makes diving possible practically everywhere though some locations really stand out. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you will be sure to have an unforgettable experience. Read on to discover the top ten scuba diving spots found here.
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My Top 15 Dive Sites In Bali
Bali is the most famous island in Indonesia and one of the most popular destinations in South East Asia and the world for scuba divers. With such a wide choice of dive sites all around the volcanic island, you might wonder where to find the best of Bali diving. The main locations for scuba divers visiting Bali are Tulamben, Amed, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Pemuteran and Padang Bai. You will be able to book all your dives with the numerous PADI and SSI dive centres located in these locations.
To help you navigate the best dive sites in Bali and whether they should be on your bucket list, check this list of the 15 best dive sites in Bali. It includes information about the best season to scuba dive there and the recommended scuba diving experience level before going. I also indicated where you could see the mola-mola , manta rays and sharks.
Visit History At Bell Island Canada
Located off the coast of Newfoundland, this spot is highly underrated. Bell Island is famous for its four nearly perfectly preserved wrecks. Each of these vessels were sunk by German U-Boats back in the Second World War. The SS Lord Strathcona, PLM-27, the SS Rose Castle, and the SS Saganaga can all be found no deeper than 80 feet.
The cold coastal waters have preserved the ships very well. The visibility is also exceptional. Youll be able to swim right up to the torpedo holes where the vessels were sunk. If youre up to the more advanced dive, Rose Castle is a must see. Its the deepest of the four vessels and youll pass through a few thermoclines on the way. The water gets down to almost freezing at that point. At 32 meters deep, its not a dive for everyone.
If you want to branch out a little, you can find the nearby whale graveyard. Huge skeletons of whales dot the undersea landscape for a sight you will find nowhere else. Fin, sperm, and minke whales were all processed in Newfoundland once upon a time. Though the whaling industry is gone, the relics remain. The results are both breathtaking and disturbing. Still, its a must-see glimpse into the past.
The whale graveyard is located off the coast of a town called Dildo. Get the jokes out of your system early and then go ahead with the dive. Its definitely worth it.
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Secret Bay Anilao Philippines
A wonderland for macro lovers and underwater photographers, Secret Bay, or Mainit Muck as its known locally, is a must-dive site in the Philippines. This site is quite shallow at between only 10 and 70 feet , but it is abundantly productive for macro marine life and critters. Many divers have reported sightings of mantis shrimp, rare nudibranchs, gobies of all types, and even wonderpus octopus. The site is also a fantastic night dive when Ambon scorpionfish, Bobbit worms, seahorses, frogfish, and other nocturnal species become active.
- Dive Type: Muck/Macro
Kona Mantas Big Island Hawaii Usa
Kona’s nighttime manta experience
Rodger Klein
Its only appropriate that divers, come to see one of natures wonders, kneel on the shallow bottom off Keahole Point, neoprene supplicants pointing their dive lights up to attract plankton. The mantas glide in from the darkness some with wingspans of 16 feet a phantasmagoric morph of fish and bird, inhaling the plankton in great swooping arcs. They approach mouths agape, often scraping, like downy sandpaper, across the top of your head. On a good night there might be a dozen or more, a languorous melee of looping, banking and inhaling, their mushroom-white undersides pinioned, briefly, in your dive light. Konas manta dives are famous and thus often crowded, and it doesnt matter one whit. Ken McAlpine
Dive This Now:Kona Aggressor
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The Boiler Socorro Mexico
Socorros world-famous dive site is renowned for magical encounters with some very docile manta rays. As the name suggests, The Boiler promises often-tumultuous dive conditions, however, all this is forgotten once divers descend to the top of the submerged plateau and join the mantas at their cleaning station. These graceful creatures swoop and glide in a daily secret dance just above the reef, and even appear to play in the exhaust bubbles omitted from scuba sets. The experience is otherworldly and a rare chance to interact with these magnificent gentle giants.
Bluewater Top Tip: Comparable with the Galapagos and Cocos, Socorro is the most accessible of the Pacific big animal destinations, and is easily reached from the US.
Read our full article on the top three destinations to dive with big animals– Socorro, Cocos, and Galapagos, and see the best liveaboards in Socorro.
Great Blue Hole Belize
Very deep, wide, hole outlined by coral reef and inhabited by sharks. Is there another sight like it? 30 m visibility coming over the bathwater warm reef of vibrant colors, descending into a cool, deep blue hole where the water begins to waver and shimmer as you enter the transition from salt to fresh water at about 15 m. Watching the enormous tuna and other pelagics dive into the hole to clean themselves as you briefly remove your octopus to taste the fresh water. Then descending another 25 m to explore the stalagtites and stalagmites of ancient caverns. Compare prices of Belize diving trips.
The Blue Hole, Belize. Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Read more about diving Belize and the Blue Hole
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Wolf And Darwin Islands Galapagos Ecuador
Kicking off the list with a spectacular big ocean site, Wolf and Darwin Islands, on the fringes of the remote Galapagos archipelago, offer thrilling encounters with sharks and other pelagic superstars. Divers braving the challenging swell and strong currents will be well rewarded with sightings of huge schools of hammerheads, as well as regular appearances from Galapagos, silky, and whale sharks. For big animal fans who arent averse to cooler waters, this site is not to be missed.
Bluewater Top Tip: Be sure to book a land tour to discover some of the Galapagos Islands rare and endemic land species.
Join the to experience some of the best shark diving.
Dive Sites For Beginner Scuba Divers Should Satisfy The Follow Characteristics:
- The depth should be shallower than 18-20 metres .
- There should be no strong underwater current .
- The dive should not be a wall dive where good buoyancy control is a key requirement.
- The dive must have a good points of interest, for example a shallow wreck or an interesting reef etc.
- The visibility should be good.
Hanifaru Bay Baa Maldives
Hanifaru Bay
Lill Haugen
The world is full of great manta and whale-shark sites. But in the Maldives, one site is home to both. At Baa Atolls Hanifaru Bay, snorkelers can watch as hundreds of manta rays and a few dozen whale sharks gorge themselves on an overwhelming plankton smorgasbord. And while scuba diving is now strictly prohibited testament to how overcrowded this bay has become a few lucky snorkelers still have the opportunity to experience this movable feast. LH
Dive This Now:Maldives Aggressor
Head Down Into Bonne Terre Mine Missouri
Typically you dont think of Missouri when you think scuba diving, right? Well, travel is still pretty difficult this year. Staying closer to home can still offer you some unexpected dives. Head about an hour south of St. Louis and youll find the Bonne Terre mines.
Flooded with freshwater after they were shut down, these mines are a diving paradise. Not only can you explore two dozen routes through the mines, you can learn a bit too. Mine dive tours come with a lot of history and information about the site. The guides are exceptionally helpful. Not only do they have an abundance of information, theyre also very friendly. If you like some history with your dives, this is a must try.
Depending on your skill level you can take various routes. The dive leaders will point out some of the unique features of the mines. This includes old equipment and drill sites. One thing you do want to be prepared for is the temperature. The water can get cold here. Year round temperature is about 62F. Depending on which route you take, you may be making slow progress. If youre not used to the chill, it can be an issue.
All that said, Bonne Terre is incredibly unique. If you enjoy wreck dives, this is a fun change of pace. You wont see tropical fish and coral reefs. But you will find old mining carts and some impressive cave formations. Definitely worth a trip if youre near Missouri.
Gran Cenote Riviera Maya Mexico
Gran Cenote
Reinhard Dirscherl
There are a number of great cave and cavern dives in the worlds capital for cave and cavern dives, but the best is Gran Cenote. Its not deep like the Pit, spooky like Temple of Doom or just plain weird like Angelita no, Gran Cenote is the first stop for many snorkelers and divers because the water is clear, shallow, and its an easy introduction to what you can expect from the cenotes that dot Riviera Maya. Water lilies near the entry ladder add a touch of color to the cerulean pool that quickly leads you to a main chamber, where youll surface deep inside the rock. Theres always a guide ahead, a guideline below and a gaggle of snorkelers taking advantage of the open-air following your every fin kick from above. David Espinosa
Dragon Hole South China Sea
The Dragon Hole could be the deepest blue hole on Earth. The measured depth so far by experts puts the bottom of the hole at approximately 300.89 meters . The pit contains limited oxygen and sulfuric waters. These conditions make it very difficult to operate scuba diving equipment, but the conditions provide deep insight and intelligence into the past environment.
The Dragon Hole is so deep that blue is the only color on the spectrum, which is reflected back by the water. The Dragon Hole contains life up to a depth 200 meters, which incorporates 20 species of fish. Below the depth of 200 meters, the blue hole is entirely deprived of all life. This is no doubt one of the most dangerous sites on earth to scuba dive.
Author Bio: Liza Brooke is a single mother and a passionate blogger. She loves to get herself updated with latest trends. Currently, she is working as a Content Writer at Crowd Writer.
Ed and Jenn
Manta Ray Night Dive Kailua Kona
The underwater diving experience is unique at the Kona coast owing to its wonderful night dving. The Manta Ray night diving can give you an experience that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
Start your adventure at late afternoon at the Honokohau Harbour and enjoy the golden sunset while sailing from the Kona coast to the Manta diving site. Help will always be available.
Experienced swim guides, dive masters and expert instructors will you slip into the gears and see the gentle giant Loop, and cruise in the beam of the light as they light up instantly the dark water underneath.
The divers after settling down on the ocean bed will switch their lights on in order to attract the planktons which will in turn attract the Manta Rays. The diving session can last upto 50-60 minutes, depending upon the air consumption.
Wreck Dive At Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Sometimes divers overlook the Great Lakes when trying to find great dive sites. Freshwater lakes are often not considered as good or interesting as ocean divers. Thunder Bays marine sanctuary can set you straight on that.
Located on Lake Huron, the marine sanctuary offers up what they call Shipwreck Alley. Wrecks dating back to 1844 can be explored here. And the fact is, Lake Huron was and is a major shipping area. Boats have been trying to manage these unpredictable waters for a long time. The numerous wrecks off of Thunder Bay are a testament to that. Over 200 wrecks can be accessed in these waters.
The best part of these dive tours is the thing most people assume is a point against it the cold. In the summer, Thunder Bay and surrounding areas can get quite warm. But the typically colder waters of Lake Huron have preserved many of the wrecks. The result is that they are in stunning conditions. Any serious wreck diver has to give this a try.
Thailand Dive Liveaboards Table
This list of Thailand liveaboards is in descending customer rating order, followed by Scuba Diving Luxury Rating , so the liveaboards with the highest customer rating and the best SDE lux rating will be at the top of the list. If you want to change the list order, use the Sort by dropdown below.
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The Unique Baranof Island Alaska Dive Site
Known as Smudges, you can book a dive up at Baranof Island dive site to hit the water with some moon jellyfish. This is accessible only by boat, so you wont be driving up here on your own for a day trip.
At a maximum depth of 80 feet, its a pretty manageable dive for most people. And if you head there in the summer, get ready for an experience. That entire 80 foot column could be dense with harmless moon jellies. No need to worry about being swarmed or stung here.
You cant 100% predict the presence of jellyfish. Theres more than seasons that go into their migration and breeding habits. Tides, currents, temperatures and more can affect them. But theres still a good chance you can count on them if you know what to look for. The result is a dive site that is unlike most others in the world.
When the jellies form in groups, sometimes called smacks, there are thousands of them. They float about in a very ghostly and beautiful way. Its a visual experience that is hard to describe but is incredibly impressive. If you love the diversity of wildlife when you dive, this is a must see.